Thursday, July 2, 2015

From 1st
July 2015 - Two-wheeler riders wearing helmets has become compulsory in Tamil
Nadu with police booking as many as 1,008 cases in Chennai city besides continuing with their propaganda
efforts to create awareness on the need for the headgear. According to Chennai
City Traffic police, 452 vehicles were detained. It is stated that records pertaining to 556
other two-wheelers have been detained for not wearing helmets. Similar action
has been taken in other cities of the state as well. The police are meanwhile
continuing with their campaign efforts to create better awareness on the need
for two-wheeler riders to wear helmets to prevent serious
injuries in case of mishaps.

The first political
salvo came from GK Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) urging the Tamil Nadu government to extend the
deadline for compulsory helmet rule. In a statement he said the government should take steps to
monitor the price of helmets, which has shot up suddenly, and to make the
headgear affordable for the common people.

While admitting
that the prices have sky-rocketed, it
must be noted and understood that the Govt has not brought this rule on its own
but on the directive of the High Court.
There exists penal provision in MV rules for violation. Justice N. Kirubakaran had in a recent
judgment of a road accident victim said – ‘it is a common sight, on roads of
every city, that people ride two-wheelers without helmets’ – called for strict
implementation of helmet rule besides enhancing the compensation to Rs 20 lakh
from Rs 12.23 lakh awarded by the tribunal.Citing the “case on hand” and its
consequences, the judge directed the state government to inform the same to the
public through media on or before June 18, the judge said, “If this direction
is not complied with, the home secretary and DGP shall appear before this court
on June 19”. The Hon’ble Judge also said
that impounded documents shouldbe
released only on production of new ISI certified helmet with purchase receipt.

On sky-rocketing
prices, the public themselves are to be blamed.
Today’s paper quotes a software employee as stating that he was so
caught up with routine that he forgot to buy helmets for self and wife till it
was too late. On the deadline day, he
rushed to GP road – saw the shops crowded [people will not have the patience to
stand in a crowd] – logged on to a portal and ordered two. When there is artificial demand, why will not
the prices rise ? – what prevented people from buying helmets when they bought
their vehicles or at least when the newspapers wrote about the judgment of the
Court ??

It is stated that
Online portals now promise delivery only after 10 days time, meantime,
makeshift shops selling unbranded helmets have mushroomed and some will be
happy in buying a cheap one, just to escape the Police enforcement.

TOI quotes the City
Police Commissioner as stating the Chennai’s response to be overwhelming – on
the first day of High Court enforced helmet rule. He is quoted as saying that almost 95% of the
city riders wore a helmet, while a slightly lower % abided by the rule in
suburbs. There, however, were some
violators, and most of them paid for not falling in line.

According to some
statistics - 227 two wheeler riders have
died in two wheeler accidents in the city this year, of this 223 reportedly
were not wearing helmets. The hassles
involved in getting back the seized vehicle and documents seem to have worked.
“If it was just a fine, I wouldn't have bothered much. But losing your licence,
dealing with the police and the court is just too much of a pain. A traffic
police officer said. “Each SI will have two sets of receipts -one for seizing
documents and one when the vehicle is detained. The violator will get the
respective receipt and the items seized will be kept at the nearest police
station.The court will then decide the fine and punishment,“ he said.

When it comes to
pillion riders and children, police say they are taking it step by step. “We
are now focusing on the rider. Those riding pillion are being warned and action
will soon follow” said an Officer. Here
is a photo taken in Mount Road, Teynampet area this morning – still some could
be cited without helmets on the busy arterial road itself … do you call them
fool-hardy or idiotic ?

In 2007, there was
the Government Order on helmets, enforced briefly – then the Govt issued a
recommendation ‘not to
harass public in the name of enforcing law’. So, perhaps, the
Chennai citizen is waiting and watching !